Max Liebau combines his clinical experience as a board-certified pediatric nephrologist with his training in cellular and molecular biology. His research group follows a translational approach to study genetic kidney diseases with a special focus on Polycystic Kidney Disease (e.g. ARPKD).

The lab currently works on molecular mechanisms affecting cellular signaling in ARPKD and other congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract. This work is complemented by international clinical registry studies on autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in childhood (ARegPKD and ADPedKD) including associated biobanking.

In addition to the care of patients with genetic in inborn kidney diseases, Dr Liebau’s clinical work is dedicated to the interdisciplinary and multiprofessional treatment of children with other chronic diseases. In this context Dr Liebau has been heading the newly established Center for Chronically Ill Children at the Children’s Hospital of the University of Cologne since 2017.